To say hard truths is a simple film is both accurate and deceptive, hiding the depth that Mike Leigh captures in his story. Yes, the film is basic in its construction, with the thinnest of plots and straight forward camerawork. But it's in all this simplicity that allows for the rich and complex performances of the cast, and Jean-Baptiste in particular, to shine.
Following Pansy, her husband and son along with her sister and her sister's two daughters, we see…
Pretty effective. I did find things escalated quickly. Knowing what the story was about (thanks to all the media attention) also made it hard to understand some of the choices (the oven scene in particular, but framing it from Lily's perspective does make more sense - it could be brushed off as an accident until there's more clarity). In the end, well made and well told. It works.
Clever premise. I love the inclusion of the time lapse animating which is a good reminder of what goes into these projects while also being a perfect way to tell the story.
